This also goes for hurt/be hurt, kill/be killed, etc etc.

I realize this is very general, but please don't answer with "It depends on the situation." Be honest!

I would rather kill in self-defense than be killed. I probably would feel guilty but it's better than dying (assuming I don't go to jail, as Raccon stated in the shoutbox).

Would I rather that harm come to me, or harm come to some stranger?

Obviously I would rather harm came to some stranger. Because you haven't specified what "steal" means, we could dub this to mean "steal 1c from someone". Would I rather have 1c stolen from me, or steal 1c from someone else?

You imply these are the only two choices available, when it is not.

Steal something of value. Specifics should be irrelevant.

This is my situation and I say these are your only two choices.

Stealing in what context? Theft of life, theft of an object? Any sort of morally evil deed can be traced back to stealing.

That said, I would rather steal from someone than be stolen from.

The topic is "Moral Predicament." The situation isn't interesting or worthy of consideration as a "predicament" if there are other choices available. There's no point in trying to "weasel" your way out of the predicament part of this, that's avoiding the topic altogether and doesn't belong in this thread. (Goes for lanthanides 1 cent thing too, and any future nonsense). Don't be a smart ass.

That said, the answer to this question is highly dependant upon the actual situation in which the predicament occurs. If its something petty, like me and a friend are out camping and we only have 1 sandwich for lunch between the two of us, I'd probably rather have it "stolen" from me. If its a life-or-death thing, like needing a kidney, I'd probably rather steal it and live than have it stolen from me and die.

Speaking from a strictly legal sense, I'd prefer something to be stolen from me, as then I wouldn't have to be concerned about being a criminal. But I don't think that's the purpose of this poll.

I view it based on control. I have more control in the situation where I am stealing: I can choose who to steal from and what to steal. On the other hand, I can't choose who steals from me, for what reasons, or what they take away.

So yeah, I'd probably prefer to steal.

My video game track record shows I'm quite a thief.

I'd rather be stolen from, save it being my house or something. Most of the things I own can be replaced for a price. Now having a clean conscience is something that cannot be bought. Depending on what I am stealing, I'd probably never be able to live it down. Being stolen from is something I can get over/deal with or just forget.

If this is truly an IRL issue, if you posted some details we'd probably be able to help more.

If, for example, your roommate is stealing from you and you want to steal your items back, I would buy a lockbox for your valuables and cut your losses.

Haha not IRL.

And thank you Vrael, you spoke what I was thinking.

Hmm, would you rather steal a job or have your job stolen from you?